Last night's victory for Chelsea proved once again that Jose Mourinho is a manager for the big occasion.

With few giving Chelsea a chance against what until last night was a rampant Manchester City side, the side wearing the darker shade of blue left the Etihad with all three points and all the plaudits.

The Special One was at his best - winding up his opponents before the match, gesticulating furiously on the touchline during it and then entertaining everyone with his bizarre post-match comments after.

But most importantly for Mourinho - it was a game that saw him maintain his incredible Premier League record against the best sides.

Against the traditional big four - which during his first spell in England consisted of Chelsea, Manchester United, Arsenal and Liverpool, Mourinho lost just two games. A three year spell that spanned 19 games saw defeats only against Liverpool in 2007 just before Mourinho left Stamford Bridge and against Manchester United in 2005 at Old Trafford.

His fine record has continued against those particular teams since he returned last summer - with the four games against those particular sides yielding two wins and two draws.

However, things changed a little while Mourinho was off winning the treble with Inter Milan and then La Liga with Real Madrid. That difference is the emergence of Manchester City.

Yet so far, even they haven't been able to stop Mourinho with both fixtures between City and Chelsea ending in favour of Mourinho.

If those two games against City are added to Mourinho's record in the Premier League against the traditional big four, the Special One's record stands at 25 games, 14 wins, 9 draws, 2 defeats.

That means Mourinho has avoided defeat an incredible 92 per cent of the time and has left with all three Premier League points 56 per cent of the time.

Most said prior to last night's match that Chelsea would be up against it at the Etihad, but with a record like Mourinho's, City always faced a tough task.